Browsing by Subject "Culture"

Now showing 1 - 17 of 17

Open Access
322 Can We Protect Our Socio-Cultural Identity? Language Rights, Mother Tongue and Creation of a Constitutional Paradox
(University of North Bengal, 2024-03) Chaki, Nishit Ranjan
In India, The Constitution and the policy documents have always recognised the importance of mother tongue and have cherished the linguistic diversity of India. Language is a marker of identity and plays a key role in the formation of the socio-cultural identity of an individual. The various quantitative benefits of having mother tongue based education are well documented. Hence, this this paper specifically explores situations beyond these general statements. It attempts to study the various qualitative aspects related to mother tongue and how these ultimately shape the socio-cultural identity of the individual. Although people in India have the right to conserve their language and pursue education through it, a Hohfeldian analysis shows that there are complexities involved in realising this right. This paper attempts to understand some of the issues associated with non-realization of language rights and its effect on the loss of socio-cultural identity. It explores the position of language rights in the broader spectrum of constitutional structure related to language, especially the effects of transition from erstwhile multilingual States to primarily monolingual States. Further, it evaluates the importance of mother tongue being a specific focus of study within the broader concept of language rights. It explores the interface between language and education and argues that in this regard language rights ought to be non-negotiable. In this regard, it attempts to compare educational rights in the Constitution from the perspective of preservation of linguistic diversity of India. Finally, it details out the unique relationship of language and culture in India and also the role of language in the formation of socio-cultural identity of an individual. The paper is housed under the broad theme of evaluating whether the present linguistic rights and other constitutional provisions are sufficient in the long run to preserve the linguistic diversity of the country.
Open Access
Babus and the Social Body in Conceptual Proposition in Early Colonial Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2020-03) Roy, Varun Kumar
Edward Said maintains: “Knowledge of the Orient because generated out of strength, in a sense, creates the Orient, the Oriental and his world” (Said 1978: 40). The emergence of the Babus brought new changes in the social atmosphere of early colonial Bengal. The elite, wealthy, western educated Bengalis began imitating western culture and were very much eager to forge a new social class, which would align them with the Britishers. This research paper tries to revisit existing literature in conjunction with historical texts to understand the formation of the Babu identity and how this was mirrored in the new social body that had come into existence.
Open Access
Bengal-Bihar Merger Movement of 1956: A Glance of West Dinajpur, A District of West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2017-03) Ghosh, Arun
The proposed study is on Bengal-Bihar merger movement of 1956, and the district of West Dinajpur of West Bengal. In the eve of independence of India and partition of Bengal in 1947, the northern part of West Bengal or North Bengal was separated from the rest of West Bengal. Along with this, there was demand of incorporation of Bengali speaking area of Bihar with West Bengal. In 1953, the States Reorganisation Commission was formed to examine this issue on linguistic line. After forming that Commission, West Bengal put forwarded memorandum, claiming partition of land of Bihar. But there was protest in Bihar against that. Then the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Bihar decided to merge Bengal and Bihar. But movement started against this merger proposal. Then they withdraw the merger proposal and a portion of land of Bihar added within West Bengal by the recommendation of States Reorganisation Commission, which effects on demography, economy, culture of that area of West Dinajpur district of West Bengal and which evoked separatist trend in form of political movements.
Open Access
Dynamics of Religious Transformation of the Tamang Community of the Sub-Himalaya: Historical Perspective
(University of North Bengal, 2021-03) Lama, Sudash
Study of religion and cultural change has always cherished the historian and ethnologist. The Tamang have been the subject of study for historians, ethnologists and philologists for many decades. The cultural peculiarity and ethnographic distinctiveness has attracted the scholar. The present paper intends to highlight the imbibed religious transformative character of animism to Buddhism. It also attempted to explore the reasons for the cultural shift of the tamang from animism to Buddhism.
Open Access
Educational and employment status of the scheduled tribes population in Malda District, West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2019) Mandal, Pronob; Bhattacharya, Sudip
Open Access
Ethical issues of globalization: a kantian solution
(University of North Bengal, 2024-03) Das, Beauty
The outline of “Ethical Issues of Globalization: A Kantian Solution” is grounded on the idea that in the contemporary world, the wave of globalization comes with so many benefits. However, its adverseeffects cannot be disregarded, especially when it comes to different ethical issues. In the era of globalization, everything is global in character, whether it is culture, religion, ethics, ideology, etc. However, in the case of globalization, the problem is that it is challenging to set an exact ethical or legal framework through which we can reduce its negative impacts. So, an ethical framework is needed for the process of globalization. In the present venture, I intend to give a Kantian solution to some global ethical problems by putting to use Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy. To my mind, Kant’s idea of morality can be effectively utilized to find answers to contemporary ethicalissues engendered by the process of globalization.
Open Access
Exotic Food and Beverages of the Limbus in the Himalayas and Sub-Himalayan Region
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Biswas, Samar Kumar; Sharma, Gaurav
The diverse and intriguing world of exotic food and beverages within the Limbu community, an indigenous group, of the Himalayan and Sub-Himalayan regions boast a rich culinary heritage deeply entwined with their cultural roots and local ecosystems. From fermented soybean delicacies like Kinema to various traditional dishes, the article delves into the unique flavours and preparation methods that define Limbu cuisine. Additionally, traditional beverages like Tongba and Jaar add a distinctive touch to the exploration of this culinary landscape. The discussion extends to the broader context of preserving and celebrating indigenous food traditions in the face of modern influences. Through this exploration, readers gain insights into the exotic gastronomic treasures of the Limbu people, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and appreciation in the realm of diverse global cuisines.
Open Access
From Effeminacy to Revolutionary: A Historical Analysis of the Rise of the Revolutionary Movement in Colonial Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2022-03) Ghosh, Subir
In India, the origins of the revolutionary movement had a long-term historical process. In the early decade of the twentieth century, the revolutionary movement was mainly confined to Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab. This article focuses on the origins of the revolutionary movement in colonial Bengal. In Bengal, the revolutionary movement had a historical root. It was the result of the physical culture movement in Bengal. This paper is trying to argue that the concept of the revolutionary movement was not exported from Maharashtra. However, historians like Peter Heehs, Partha Chatterjee, and Bimanbehari Majumdar have argued that the idea of the Bengali revolutionary movement came from Maharashtra. This article discusses that the Bengali revolutionary movement started against the charge of effeminacy and cowardice of Bengali people. Some Bengali intellectuals, like Rajnarayan Bose, Nabagopal Mitra, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, later Sarala Ghosal, Pramatha Nath Mitra, Aurobindo Ghosh, Sister Nivedita, and Jatindranath Banerjee, played a crucial role in forming a revolutionary organisation in Bengal.
Open Access
Khas-kura Nepali and Cultural Consolidation in Darjeeling Hills: A Genesis
(University of North Bengal, 2015-03) Ghosh, Sujit
With the opening of Tea Industries by British tea planters gradually altered the racial composition of Darjeeling hills. Immigration of plantation labor hailing from Nepal had .been a major factor of the changing of racial composition of Darjeeling hills .. Multi-ethnic Nepali community became the majority people in Darjeeling hills. The preponderance of Nepali in Darjeeling hills, the Nepali or Khas-kura speaking people gradually conscious to unify and consolidate on linguistic basis. An attempt has been made to search the emergence of culture, literature and the process of cultural Consolidation of the Nepali or Khas-kura speaking people in Darjeeling hills.
Open Access
Mahali Culture and Social Change in West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Soni, Amit
Ethnographic study and analysis in Anthropology is the very base of anthropological researches in India and abroad. Mahali or Mahli is an artisan community involved in traditional bamboo craft. The present paper is outcome of ethnographic study and situational analysis of the Mahali tribe of West Bengal. An attempt has been made to present the indigenous Mahali Culture along with the socio-cultural changes in the changing modern scenario. Mahali people are master craftsmen and produce fine basketry along with doing labor work. Lots of changes are coming in the Mahali society and culture due to the impact of migration, acculturation and modernization. Their living standard is little bit uplifted by various tribal developmental programs and facilities provided in the Mahali areas, but still they are living in low socio-economic condition.
Open Access
Rethinking Kosli Identity: Language, Literature and Culture of Western Odisha
(University of North Bengal, 2018-03) Kumar, Tila
Western Odisha’ once upon a time, formed a part of the ancient Koshal kingdom having its distinctive history, culture and unique salient features. The proponents of the separate Koshal state movement which is going on in the western part of Odisha have been mobilizing people and spearheading their movement along such a historic path so as to bring back their golden past and to preserve, protect and promote their rich cultural heritage. The people of western Odisha living in as many as eleven different districts not only ascertain their common ancestry but also share their common fate of being backward and underdeveloped due to ‘internal colonialism’ including state apathy and ‘coastal conspiracy’. Nevertheless, they are struggling and mobilizing forcefully to deconstruct their stigmatized identity and asserting today a unique ‘Kosli identity’, which is increasingly being recognized world over. And it is this ‘Kosli identity’ - which the leaders of the Koshal movement are using to garner people’s support and galvanize Kosli consciousness and ‘Kosli nationalism’ - the emblematic chord of the demand for a separate Kosal state. It is, therefore, that we discuss in the present article, some of the significant markers of what constitute Kosli identity in terms of a) Kosli language and literature and b) Kosli culture.
Open Access
Rites and Rituals in the Life and Death Cycle of the Mangar
(University of North Bengal, 2021-03) Mangar, Asudha
history of origin of Mangar or Magar in India is shrouded in obscurity. Some scholars emphasized on the fact that the Magars or Mangars, are one of the aborigines of Sikkim and Nepal, belong to the Kirata community of the Eastern Himalayas. They are one of the oldest tribes of Sikkim. Rajesh Verma has reasonably stated that the Kiratis include Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Mangar and Tamang tribe of Sikkim. S.R. Timsina has also mentioned that the Mangars, Limbus and Lepcha are the earliest settlers of ancient Sikkim. J.D. Hooker has also described them as the aborigines of Sikkim. Hence, the rites and rituals of Mangars settlers of Sikkim, Darjeeling or sub- Himalayan region has a close affinity and can be found with similarity with other castes, yet holding its uniqueness and ethnic values. The paper here tries its best to bring out expansively the prevailing rites and rituals of Mangar among the inhabitants of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in respect of life and death cycle.
Open Access
Role of Satras in the Spread of Art and Culture with Special Reference to Barpeta Satra
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Goswami, Mridusmita
The most notable characteristic of the neo-Vaisnavite movement in Assam is the Satra institution through which the faith was propagated and established. It may be monastic as well as semi-monastic in form. The importance of this institution lies in the fact that it is intimately connected with the Assamese society and it has become a part and parcel of Assamese life. The history of Vaisnavism in Assam cannot be treated without reference to the Satra institution. For the Vaisnavite movement in Assam the Satra institution plays an important role in the spread of Assamese culture and acts as an aid in making the Assamese society united. The Satra has been working as a center of various art forms, such as Literature, Drama, Song and Dance, Craft and Painting etc. The objective that has been formulated for the study was to know about the role of Satra institution in Assam. The study also tried to study the role of Barpeta Satra in the spread of art and culture. The study was based on both primary and secondary sources of informations.
Open Access
Socio-Economic and Cultural Life of the Bediyas of Bengal during British Rule
(University of North Bengal, 2022-03) Sufia Khatun
Bediya is the generic name given to a number of gipsy tribes wandering in different parts of Bangladesh. In ancient and medieval Bengal, the Bediyas have been mentioned in contemporary literature as the ‘antyaja’ castes, displaying snake games and playing magic. During British rule, the Bediyas would live in boats or in houses raised on piles in different parts of Bengal. Unlike the settled cultivating class, they subsisted by selling snake venom, fancy goods, and small articles; by practising indigenous medicine; and by displaying magic, gymnastics, and shows of snakes and animals. A few Bediya families elected their own Sardar, whose decision was binding to all of them. A Bediya woman was more industrious compared to her husband. Their occupations, food habits, social organization, and everyday life were different from those of the settled communities of the country. In society, the Bediyas were treated as low-grade people. Most of the Bediyas followed Islam but were addicted to alcohol and ganja. They worshipped the goddess Manasa and observed many Hindu rituals.
Open Access
Theravadi buddhists of Siliguri: study of socio- cultural distinctiveness and exchange
(University of North Bengal, 2020) Chatterjee Sen, Aparna; Biswas, Saswati,
Open Access
Understanding religious language as a form of life : Philosophical quest after later wittgenstein
(University of North Bengal, 2021) Deka, Anup; Das, Kanti Lal
Open Access
Understanding the Interface Between Multiculturalism and Postmodernism: A Nietzschean Perspective
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Roy, Saikat
Postmodernism with its deconstructionist position denotes a shift of hegemonic intellectual paradigm positing the transition from one cultural context to another. Such a shift is always characterized by transformation of cultural codes and systems of values expressed in changes of cultural, religious norms, outlooks on micro and macro levels, that is, social, political, ideological as well as personal, etc. The component of the postmodern program is seen in the multicultural project, assuming the creation of a global community with a set of cultures which has the right to existence and should cause respect. Multiculturalism of the nineties draws its most important concepts from the postmodernist thought, which in turn ultimately stems from Friedrich Nietzsche’ philosophy. He cherished multiculturalism and postmodernism from the value-standpoint and primarily focused on the cultural relativism. The contention of this paper is to investigate and analyse the interface between these two ideological paradigms from a Nietzschean perspective.